Intermediate Report Research of Pre-election Period - The Human ...
Intermediate Report Research of Pre-election Period - The Human ... Intermediate Report Research of Pre-election Period - The Human ...
“The Georgian Media Legal Defense Center (GMLDC) reacts to the recent facts of interference with professional work of journalists. On July 22, 2012, men dressed in civilian uniforms did not allow journalists of Info 9, who had arrived in the village of Shaumani to report on local problems, to interview local population. According to media reports, during the visit of President Saakshvili in the village of Kheta, Khobi District, on July 25, 2012, journalists were not allowed to cover the event. On July 24, 2012, in Ozurgeti, journalists of the newspaper Guria News were not allowed to cover visit of the president in Guria. As men dressed in civilian uniforms explained to journalists, they were on a secured territory, whereas video footage illustrates that movement was not restricted for security reasons. Even if it had been, the restriction clearly did not apply to journalists since other media outlets covered the event. As representatives of Guria News allege, they deleted video materials that journalists had recorded. 11 2. On July 27th of 2012 GYLA’s Georgian Media Legal Defense Center released statement responding to pressure on journalist Nodar Chachua of Channel 9 TV Company. See the original text of the statement: “GYLA‟s Georgian Media Legal Defense Center (GMLDC) responds to pressure on journalist Nodar Chachua of Channel 9 TV Company. According to the journalist, he was blackmailed by three unknown individuals, forcing him to provide information and in return, they promised financial reward. As stated by Nodar Chachua, the unknown individuals were demanding information about situation in the television company. They were also forcing him to engage in a 11 http://www.humanrights.ge/index.php?a=main&pid=15266&lang=geo 16
sexual activity with a male employee of Channel 9. He also alleges that these individuals identified themselves as representatives of some “service”, who “take care of problems but also create big problems.” The journalist was able to state information that could help identify the individuals – a telephone number of calls that he received as well as a license plate and series of the vehicle that they drove. The GMLDC believes that the incident contains signs of offence envisaged by the Criminal Code. Therefore, it calls for a timely and immediate response in order to ensure personal safety of journalists and prevent of any similar facts in the future. Furthermore, this is not the first case of harassment of journalists and interference with their professional activities. GYLA calls on the law enforcement authorities once more to take operative and adequate further actions, to investigate into cases of harassment of journalists in a timely manner and prosecute those responsible for criminal actions following the investigation.” 12 3. On July 30 Public Defender Giorgi Tugushi petitioned to the Chief Prosecutor of Georgia to launch investigation into threats leveled against journalist Nodar Chachua of TV 9. With this statement Public Defender responded to the July 27 reports released by media outlets 13 featuring Nodar Chachua speaking about threats against him. “The Public Defender believes that explanatory note delivered from Nodar Chachua contains the signs of crime punishable by the Criminal Code of Georgia and, accordingly, it is within the competence of the investigatory bodies to study the aforementioned fact and respond in an appropriate manner,” the statement by Public Defender reads. 14 4. Journalist Tea Alaverdasvhili of Info 9 was injured in Gurjaani district administration‟s building. Journalist was trying to enter reception-room of the 12 http://www.humanrights.ge/index.php?a=main&pid=15264&lang=geo 13 http://www.media.ge/stories/metskhrearkhiszhurnali 14 http://humanrights.ge/index.php?a=main&pid=15260&lang=geo 17
- Page 1 and 2: Human Rights Center (HRIDC) Interme
- Page 3 and 4: Contents Introduction -------------
- Page 5 and 6: Standards for Assessment of Pre-ele
- Page 7 and 8: partners started to have problems (
- Page 9 and 10: administrative resources is prohibi
- Page 11 and 12: several political bodies (party or
- Page 13 and 14: On December 27 2011, nine months be
- Page 15: amendments to the Constitution) spe
- Page 19 and 20: standing away from the perimeter in
- Page 21 and 22: shooting the incident; suddenly the
- Page 23 and 24: leave the party in time they would
- Page 25 and 26: school Kamila Khevsurishvili threat
- Page 27 and 28: Dream. Nodar Javakhishvili told Int
- Page 29 and 30: Nobody commented on the fact from t
- Page 31 and 32: the cottage; they verbally and phys
- Page 33 and 34: Commission, does not allow them to
- Page 35 and 36: On August 23Suliko Mikeladze and Ir
- Page 37 and 38: said they were from police. I asked
- Page 39 and 40: “Yesterday, late in the evening,
- Page 41 and 42: 28. Free Georgia‟s regional offic
- Page 43 and 44: 32. Ledi Natadze, member of the ele
- Page 45 and 46: on July 29 she was called back and
- Page 47 and 48: presumably is activist of the Natio
- Page 49 and 50: got out of the cars. They started b
- Page 51 and 52: in my car and everybody confirmed t
- Page 53 and 54: Based on the applications, the char
- Page 55 and 56: We checked part of the information
- Page 57 and 58: We call upon the State Audit Office
- Page 59 and 60: 56. During the night of August 7, 2
- Page 61 and 62: and slapped him. The former went an
- Page 63 and 64: officers, disobeyed and offered res
- Page 65 and 66: 74. Nugzar Kapanadze - was arrested
“<strong>The</strong> Georgian Media Legal Defense Center (GMLDC) reacts to the recent facts <strong>of</strong><br />
interference with pr<strong>of</strong>essional work <strong>of</strong> journalists.<br />
On July 22, 2012, men dressed in civilian uniforms did not allow journalists <strong>of</strong> Info 9,<br />
who had arrived in the village <strong>of</strong> Shaumani to report on local problems, to interview<br />
local population.<br />
According to media reports, during the visit <strong>of</strong> <strong>Pre</strong>sident Saakshvili in the village <strong>of</strong><br />
Kheta, Khobi District, on July 25, 2012, journalists were not allowed to cover the<br />
event.<br />
On July 24, 2012, in Ozurgeti, journalists <strong>of</strong> the newspaper Guria News were not<br />
allowed to cover visit <strong>of</strong> the president in Guria. As men dressed in civilian uniforms<br />
explained to journalists, they were on a secured territory, whereas video footage<br />
illustrates that movement was not restricted for security reasons. Even if it had been,<br />
the restriction clearly did not apply to journalists since other media outlets covered<br />
the event. As representatives <strong>of</strong> Guria News allege, they deleted video materials that<br />
journalists had recorded. 11<br />
2. On July 27th <strong>of</strong> 2012 GYLA’s Georgian Media Legal Defense Center released<br />
statement responding to pressure on journalist Nodar Chachua <strong>of</strong> Channel 9 TV<br />
Company. See the original text <strong>of</strong> the statement:<br />
“GYLA‟s Georgian Media Legal Defense Center (GMLDC) responds to pressure on<br />
journalist Nodar Chachua <strong>of</strong> Channel 9 TV Company. According to the journalist, he<br />
was blackmailed by three unknown individuals, forcing him to provide information<br />
and in return, they promised financial reward.<br />
As stated by Nodar Chachua, the unknown individuals were demanding information<br />
about situation in the television company. <strong>The</strong>y were also forcing him to engage in a<br />
11 http://www.humanrights.ge/index.php?a=main&pid=15266&lang=geo<br />
16
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